
SAISD 504/Dyslexia Newsletter
December 2021
Section 504 Explained
Section 504 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities. It ensures that a student with a disability has equal access to an education and to benefits and services comparable to those given to peers without disabilities.
A child with a disability is one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities. Major life activities include: Caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.
504 plans are formal plans that schools develop to give kids with disabilities the support they need. That covers any disability that limits daily activities in a significant way. Accommodations don’t change what kids learn, just how they learn it. The plan is developed to remove barriers and give kids access to learning.
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference. It affects the organization in the brain that controls the ability to process the way language is heard, spoken, read, or spelled. Dyslexia can also manifest in difficulties with working memory, attention, and organization. Dyslexia can be genetic, and ranges on a continuum of mild to severe. It is important to keep in mind that people with dyslexia are not lacking in motivation or intelligence. In fact, they are typically average to above average in intelligence. Furthermore, dyslexia is fairly common.
Courtesy of dyslexiaresource.org
But Remember Dyslexics Do Have Extraordinary Strengths
Dyslexia Success Story
Courtesy of Understood.org
Useful Resources
Immersive Reader
Special Features includes:
- reads any web page out loud
- ability to change the font, spacing, text size, and background color
- able to break words into syllables
- can identify parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, and adverb)
- picture dictionary to help with vocabulary
- able to translate into many different languages
Talking Book Program
The Talking Book Program (TBP) provides digital audio, large print and Braille books and magazines to Texans who cannot read standard print due to a qualifying visual, physical or reading disability, such as dyslexia. Throughout Texas, children with disabilities that prevent them from reading standard print are enjoying the world of reading through TBP. TBP offers thousands of books that students can use in their schoolwork. The collection includes titles for all ages, including literary classics, fairy tales, poetry, mysteries, sports, science fiction and biographies.
How do I apply?
If a person meets one or more of the criteria above, fill out an application and have it certified.
- Individual Application in English [pdf]
- Individual Application in English [rtf]
- Individual Application in Spanish [pdf]
- Individual Application in Spanish [rtf]
For more information click on the following link: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/index.html
American Sign Language Interpreter
Contact Us
Director Julie Ann Gonzalez
Email: csosa2@saisd.net
Website: saisd.net/page/dyslexia-home
Location: 514 West Quincy Street, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-554-2570